Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Increasingly, bikes are everywhere. Bicycles are the chosen mode of transportation for many individuals in California. In many cities their popularity is so great that special bike lanes set aside part of the roadway exclusively for cyclists.

Whether it’s for leisure, exercise, to save gas, avoid traffic, or to simply get from point A to point B, bicycles provide a great option for those who want to cut down on pollution and resource usage. In Orange County’s busy world, bicyclists share the roads with cars, trucks, and motorcycles. This can make cycling very dangerous. Even with bike lanes and right of way laws, many motor vehicle drivers are careless and even reckless around bicycles. Because bicycles are fast, fragile and inconspicuous by comparison with motor vehicles, some drivers have a hard time noticing them. Every year many cyclists are involved in serious crashes with vehicles as a result.

Every year in the United States, half a million bicyclists are treated for injuries resulting from bicycle accidents. Injury Law Central notes that many of these accidents result from negligent vehicle drivers, and at El Dabe Law Firm we make it our goal to hold these negligent drivers responsible for their actions. If you or someone you love has suffered injuries in a bicycle accident and you believe another person to be responsible, you should immediately consult with an Orange County personal injury lawyer at our firm.

Experienced Bicycle Crash Lawyers

Injury Law Central notes any bicycle accident could potentially result in serious injuries; damage that could affect a person for the rest of their life. Similar to motorcycle accidents, bicycle accident victims have very little to protect them during a crash. After impact with a vehicle, there really isn’t much guarding a cyclist from the possible crushing force of other vehicles, pavement, curbs, trees, and mailboxes. People who are involved in bicycle accidents tend to suffer from broken bones, head trauma, internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, crushed limbs, and road rash. Serious injuries can entail costly medical procedures, therapy, and perhaps even long-term care from a medical professional. Permanent disability and even death may result from a minor collision. A bicycle accident attorney from El Dabe Law Firm will take control of your case and situation to make sure you receive the medical attention needed and fair compensation to pay for expenses resulting from your bicycle accident injuries.

Common Causes of Bike Crashes

Even when cyclists take all the right precautions, they can still find themselves being involved in an accident. There are a number of common causes for bicycle accidents, a few of which our California bicycle accident attorney sees all too often.

A top cause of accidents occurs whenever a driver turns right at an intersection and slams into a bicyclist who is in the middle of it. This can be caused by obstructions that restrict a driver’s view, an attempt to beat a traffic light or failure to check the intersection before proceeding onward.

Bicyclers can also be hit head on whenever they are riding against the flow of traffic. This is a common occurrence on side streets, as drivers tend to be caught unaware whenever riders are coming at them from the opposite direction, and then pull out directly in front of them, thereby causing a collision.

People can also be hit whenever they are waiting at a red light next to a car, and the driver is not paying attention. Once the light turns green, the driver will attempt to make a right hand turn, and then plow directly into the side of a bicycle rider. Many times, the cyclist is unaware this is about to happen because the driver of the vehicle fails to signal that he or she intends to make that right-hand turn in the first place.

Individuals can sometimes be sideswiped by drivers who attempt to pass them, and then turn in front of them too quickly. This normally happens whenever a motorist is in an especially big hurry to pass and doesn’t plan for enough time to do so safely.

Automobile operators sometimes follow bicycles too closely, thereby increasing the odds of rear-ending them. Should a cyclist need to maneuver around an object, there may not be enough time for the driver to react, and an accident can easily ensue.

Drivers have a duty of care to operate their vehicles safely, especially when bicycle riders are present. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, contact us to see if a remedy is available under law.